Car coupling apparatus



Dec. 8, 1953 J. v; BERRY CAR COUPLINGAPPARATUS Filed Aug. 22 1950 Inventor JOHN 1/. Ezeev,

By 77 4444, d Maia/V Attorneys Patented/Dec. 8, 1953 UNITED STATS CAR COUPLING AhPARATUS J 01in V. Berry, J ohnstown, Pa.

Application August 22, 1950, Serial No. 180,880

Claims. (Cl. 213-188) This invention relates to coupling devices, and more particularly to a safety control for a coupling link of the type commonly used on mine cars.

An object of my invention is to provide a de- Another object of the invention is the inclusion of a guide shell in the coupling apparatus which will prevent the accidental bending of links and pins, thereby reducing maintenance expense.

A further advantage of this device lies in the fact that it can be applied to any type of mine car at small cost to the mine operator.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the present invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a plan view of a link-type car coupling embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the device as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front view of my safety control housing.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on line li of Figure 3.

Similar reference characters represent similar parts in the several figures.

In the mine industry simple link and pin-type couplers are almost universally used as means for connecting adjacent mine cars. The use of automatic couplers is for the most part confined to mine cars of a large type, and this automatic coupler apparatus has many disadvantages, namely, that such a coupler can only be adapted to certain types of cars am. can only be adopted at some mines.

Furthermore, the automatic coupler cannot be coupled while cars are standing, and it has been experienced that these devices can uncouple on curves and grades. Furthermore, the automatic coupler must be applied to two ends of a mine car which obviously adds to the cost of the equipment.

In view of the above practical disadvantages of automatic couplers, a great majority of mine operators have retained the old well known link and pin-type couplers for their cars. This conventional coupler comprises an oblong link which is permanently retained at one end of a car by means of a fixed pin. A cooperating removable pin on the abutting end of the second within the circumference car to be coupled fits of the link to complete the joint. The present method of coupling cars is for the workman or operator to grasp the end of the link and guide it -between the bumper and draw bar of the adjoining car. When this has been accomplished the removable coupling pin is inserted down through the draw bar, the link and pumper of the car thus retaining the link as a pivoting connection between the two mine cars. I

The hazards of this maneuver are readily apparent. Should the operator attempt to couple cars while they are moving, there is a constant danger that should he fail to get his hand away in time, it would be caught between the link and bumper or between the link and draw oar. considerable weight inherent in the construction of the mining car leaves little doubt as to the potential damage to lifeand limb when manually 1 part of equipment manufacturers and mine oper-' ators to eliminate job hazards such as discussed above for economical and humane factors as well as improvement of employer and employee relationship.

In Figure 1 of the drawing there is shown the typical link and pintype means for connecting mine cars. It is customary that each end of a mine car be provided with a fan-shaped bumper it formed of spaced upper and lower plates H and 52, each having diverging straight sides is and M, and the spaced plates being joined at their outer extremities by means a vertical contact plate it which is arcuate in plan, as shown at 55 in Figure 1. It is these vertical surfaces 15 that receive the force of contact blows between adjacent cars. Furthermore, each end of a car is provided with a draw bar ll spaced above the upper plate ll 01 the bumper and ter-' minating at its free end in a round pin-receiving eye it.

As best seen in Figure 2, one car in each ad-. jacent pair is provided with a fixed coupling pin generally designated as it and having a cylindrical shaft or projecting member 2% which passes downward through the eye in the draw bar through the usual elongated link 2 l, and through the alined apertures formed centrally of the bumper assembly. The fixed pin is is provided with an enlarged head portion 22 which limits the downward movement of the pin and serves to lock link 2! securely between the draw bar and bumper of the mine car.

Theopposing car is provided with a loose ecu The 3 pling pin generally designated as 23. This pin has a vertical shank '24 fitting through the draw bar, link and spaced bumper in order to retain the link between said draw bar and bumper thus providing a relatively free coupling capable of pivoting in such a manner as to allow relative turning of adjacent mine cars coupled in this way. For quick and easy removal of the loose coupling pin 23 I have shown an enlarged head 25 thereon having an upstanding pring portion 26 which permits the pin to be easily grasped and lifted vertically when it is desired to uncouple adjacent cars.

As previously explained, the task of'threa-ding the leading edge 27 of a link between the draw bar and bumper as the cars are moving toward one another is extremely hazardous and in real ity there is very little space between adjacent cars which makes it necessary for the quick removal of the operators hand to prevent injury thereto.

To remedy this situation I have devised a safety control for the car coupling link, this control consisting primarily of a U -shap.ed housing or shell 23 of similar configuration to half of the coupling link 2 l, and slightly greater in size than said link. The housing consists of oppositely disposed vertical straight walls 29 and 39 connected at one end by an arcuate vertical wall 31. In order to obviate undue weight of the device the floor or bottom of housing 28 need consist merely of a reentrant horizontal flange 32 defining a .hollow or cut-out center portion 38. This also permits penetration of the housing by the vertical link pin l9 which is secured near't'he open end of the shell. The horizontal flange 32 is of sufficient width to adequately support'the link 21 which is of predetermined cross-sectional diameter.

Referring to Figure '1 of the drawing it will be seen that along the upper edge of vertical walls 29 .and 36 I have provided narrow reentrant flanges 36 and 35 respectively. These small flanges together with flange 32 are sufiicient to retain link .2! within the housing .andilimit vertical movement of the link with respect to the housing. The forward or open end of housing 218 is preferably formed with a horizontal strip connecting the forward ends of the peripheral .bottom flange 32. This connecting strip .35 has formed centrally thereof .a projecting stub 37 which .is inclined upwardly. With this arrangement when the two cars are bumped together. should the housing and link be extending straight out and the receiving .car be higher than the other, the bumper of said higher car would slide under the housing and raise the same. If the housing be sideways, the bumper would either raise the housing or push it sideways. Stub .31 also functions to retain link 3! within the housing. It .is seen that the link will strike the stub whenever the link tends to move completely out of the housing. Thus, further movement of the link outwardly of the housing will be retarded. With a stub of proper height the .inner end of Elie link will wedge between the stub and hangs The above-described link housing permits a certain amount of longitudinal freedom of the link,'but for the most part prevents undue transverse play between the housing and the link. Therefore, the provision of an upstanding arcuate handle 39 permits perfect control of guiding of the link with the operators hand well above the elements of the coupler. Handle 39 (as seen in Fig. 3) is provided with 'a curved upper portion secured to the housing byparallel straight legs 40 and 4| which are welded or otherwise secured to the outer surface of vertical walls 25 and 30, respectively.

From the foregoing description of the present invention it will be seen that I have provided a completely simple device whereby it is only necessary for the operator to grasp handle 39 which is part of the link control and guide the link into position.

Because the operators hand is remote from contacting parts of the adjacent mine cars it is possible, with my device, to quickly and easily couple mine cars whether these cars are moving or standing. When the cars are bumper-to- .bumper .and link 2! is between the draw bar and bumper of the adjoining car, the loose coupling '23 is dropped down through the draw bar, link and car bumper to effectively couple the mine cars.

Because of the accurate control of the coupling link by the operator with the use of my guide housing the bending of links and pins is prevented. Furthermore, this efiecti-ve assembly is adaptable to mine cars of various sizes and can be manufactured in accordance with its desired installation.

While I have shown and described a preferred form of my invention, it will be understood that variations in details of form may be made without departure from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A safety control for a mine car coupling link comprising a U-shaped housing having an open end, a vertical wall leading from said open end, said wall extending substantially around the full extent of the housing and being an itbtegral part thereof, the lower edge of said wall being provided with a reentrant flange to form a centrally recessed bottom'for the housing, a reentrant flange on the upper edge of said-wall for retaining a portion of a coupling link within the housing, and a handle attached to said housing whereby the link can be guided into position for coupling adjacent cars.

2. A safety control for a mine car coupling link comprising a U-shaped housing having an open end, a vertical wall leading from said open end, said wall extending substantially around the full extent of the housing and being an integral part thereof, the lower edge of said wall bein provided with a reentrant flange to form a centrallyrecessed bottom for the housing, a reentrant flange on the upper edge of said wall for retaining a portion of a coupling link within. the housing, means fixed to the housing at its open end and fitting within the central opening of the link, said means serving to resist complete extraction of the link from the housing, and a handle attached to said housing whereby the link can be guided into position for coupling adjacent cars.

.3. .A safety control for a mine car coupling link comprising a U-shaped housing having an open end, a vertical wall leading from said open end, said wall extending substantially around the full extent of the housing and being an integral part thereof, the lower edge of said wall being provided with a reentrant flange to form a centrally recessed bottom for the housing, a reentrant flange on the upper edge of said wall for retaining a portion of a coupling link within the housing, means fixed to the housing at its open end and fitting within the central opening of the link and engageable with one end of said link upon outward movement of said link with respect to said housing to resist complete extraction of the link from the housing, and an upstanding handle attached to said housing whereby the link can be guided into position for coupling adjacent cars with the operators hand remote from the coupling mechanism.

4. A safety control for a mine car coupling link comprising an open end housing having a U-shaped vertical wall as an integral part thereof and adapted to enclose a portion of the coupling link, said wall extending substantially around the full extent of the housing and being an integral part thereof, reentrant flanges formed on the upper and lower edges of said vertical wall, a projecting member fixed to the housing at the open end thereof and extending upward through the link opening to resist complete extraction of the link from the housing upon outward movement of the link with respect to said housing and a handle fixed to the housing whereby the link can be guided into position for coupling adjacent cars.

5. A coupling device for connecting mine cars comprising an elongated link having a shell loosely covering a portion thereof, said shell being open at one end and having a vertical wall similar in configuration to the outline of substantially one-half of the link, means at the top and bottom of said shell to limit relative vertical movement between the shell and link, means near the open end of the shell to prevent complete horizontal extraction of the link from the shell, and a handle secured to the shell whereby the enclosed link can be guided into position for coupling adjacent cars.

6. A coupling device for connecting mine cars comprising an elongated link having a shell loosely covering a portion thereof, said shell being open at one end and having a vertical wall similar in configuration to the outline of substantially one-half of the link, reentrant flanges at the upper and lower edges of said vertical wall to limit relative vertical movement between the shell and link, a projecting member secured near the open end of the shell and extending into the link to resist complete extraction of the link from the shell upon outward movement of the link with respect to said shell, and an upstanding handle secured to the shell whereby the enclosed link can be guided into position for coupling adjacent cars.

7. A safety control for a mine car coupling link comprising a U-shaped housing having an open end, a vertical wall leading from said open end, said wall extending substantially around the full extent of the housing and being attached thereto,

- the lower end of said wall being provided with a reentrant flange to form a centrally recessed bottom for the housing, a reentrant flange on the upper edge of said wall for retaining a portion of a coupling link within the housing, means fixed to the housing adjacent its open end comprising an inclined element, said element projecting from said housing and serving as a guiding means for guiding said housing and an enclosed link into a position for coupling said link to an adjacent mine car during coupling opera: tions.

8. A safety control for a mine car coupling link comprising a U-shaped housing having an open end, a vertical wall leading from said open end, said wall extending substantially around the full extent of the housing and being attached thereto, the lower edge of said wall being provided with a reentrant flange to form a centrally recessed bottom for the housing, a reentrant flange on the upper edge of said wall for retaining a portion of a coupling link within the housing, means fixed to the housing adjacent its open end comprising an inclined element, said element projecting from said housing, said element serving to guide said housing and a link mounted therein during coupling operations.

9. A safety control for a mine car coupling link comprising a U-shaped housing having an open end, a vertical wall extending around said housing and attached thereto, the lower end of said wall being provided with a reentrant flange to form a centrally recessed bottom for the housing, a reentrant flange on the upper edge of said wall for retaining a portion of a coupling link within the housing, said housing having means forming an incline adjacent the open end thereof, said last named means serving as a guiding means for said housing during coupling operations.

10. A safety control for a mine car coupling link comprising a U-shaped housing having an open end, a vertical wall extending around said housing and attached thereto, the lower end of said wall being provided with a reentrant flange to form a, centrally recessed bottom for the housing, a reentrant flange on the upper edge of said wall for retaining a portion of a coupling link within the housing, said housing having means forming an incline adjacent the open end thereof, said last named means serving as a guiding means for said housing during coupling operations, and a handle attached to said housing whereby the link can be guided into position for coupling adjacent cars.

JOHN V. BERRY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 135,714 Kennedy et a1 Feb. 11, 1873 162,877 Anderson May 4, 1875 339,122 Wilson Mar. 30, 1889 438,484 Onzon Oct. 14, 1890 

